Two Syracuse men among four facing federal credit card fraud charges

Syracuse, NY -- Four men, including two from Syracuse, are facing federal charges accusing them of counterfeiting credit cards, federal prosecutors in Syracuse said today.

Kareem Highsmith, 37, of Syracuse, Maurice Pugh, 40, of Syracuse, and Glenn Francis, 27, of Brooklyn, were charged with using one or more access devices with intent to defraud, conspiracy to committ access-device fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Another man, Kervon Warrick, 28, of Brooklyn, was charged in a separate complaint with possessing 15 or more devices which are counterfeit or unauthorized access devices with intent to defraud.

All four face up to 10 years in federal prison on the charges and fines up to $250,000.

In addition, Highsmith was charged with being a felon in possesson of a firearm, a felony.

The arrests follow an investigation by the Secret Service, Syracuse police, Manlius police and state police. Executing a search warrant at the home of Highsmith, federal prosecutors said police found counterfeit manufacturing operation and a stolen .45-caliber handgun.

After executing search warrants at three locations, agents found a device used to manufacture credit cards, numerous counterfeit credit cards, many gift cards that were purchased with counterfeit credit cards, prosecutors said. The four are accused of using stolen credit card numbers to create counterfeit credit cards that were used throughout the state and the Northeast, prosecutors said.